Oilers Seen Scouting Canadiens, Eye on Veteran Defenseman?

As per a report by Kurt Leavins of The Edmonton Journal, he notes the Edmonton Oilers have been scouting the Montreal Canadiens of late and he believes the team might have their eyes on a veteran defenseman that could become available ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline.

Leavins writes:

The biggest Oilers boosters would admit the club is missing a certain element on their back end: A RHS, pure shut-down defenceman. I wonder if David Savard in MTL Has caught Ken Holland’s gaze? A $3.5m cap hit, something would have to go out for him to come in. The Oilers have had eyes in Montreal recently.

Savard is not a pending UFA, but the Canadiens are partially going through a retooling that will likely see them hang on only to the pieces they believe will play a role in the future success two or three seasons down the line, while moving out players who might not be with the team when head coach Martin St. Louis has this club ready to do more than just scrape into the playoffs. The team has played well so far this season, but Savard might not be part of their long-term plans.

He makes $3.5 million on the salary cap and is now 32 years old. He fits the timeline of the Oilers better than he does the Canadiens and that could make him a valuable trade piece for Canadiens’ GM Kent Hughes who will have to make some difficult decisions, while also leaving room on the books for players like Cole Caufield and Jordan Harris and others.

The obvious names on the move out of Montreal are Evgeni Dadonov, Jonathan Drouin, and Sean Monahan, but Savard could be a player that fetches a bit more trade interest based on his playoff experience. He has played in 57 playoff games and has provided steady minutes for the teams he’s been a part of. That’s exactly what the Oilers need as they make a run and try to go farther than last season’s Western Conference Final appearance.

Next: Latest on Extension Talks Between Canadiens and Cole Caufield